Bolt locking system

ABSTRACT

A bolt locking system is disclosed which includes an iris-slide which is cam controlled and which entirely encircles the bolt.

United States Patent [1 1 Tassie Nov. 20, 1973 [54] BOLT LOCKING SYSTEM [56] References Cited [75] Inventor: Douglas P. Tassie, St. George, Vt. UNITED STATES PATENTS 73 Assigneei General Electric Company, 3,690,215 9/1972 Clark et al. i. 89/12 Burlington, Vt. Primary Examiner-Stephen C. Bentley [22] Flled' Sept 1971 Attorney-Bailin L. Kuch et al. [21] Appl. No.: 176,989

[57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl 89/12, 89/188, 89/189 A bolt iocking System is disclosed hi includes an [51] Int. Cl. F4ld 7/04 iris siidc which is cam conti-ciicd and which cmii-ciy [58] Field of Search 89/12, 160, 173, encircles the bciL 8 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTED NEW 20 I975 30772859 SHEET 10? 2 48 INVENTOR.

Doueoqs Ff 7265/5 MZZ PAIENTED NOV 20 I973 SHEET 2 OF 2 INVENTOR. Dousws P 7585/ V I A7 Tags 5y 1 BOLT LOCKING SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to locking systems for automatic and semiautomatic guns having a reciprocating bolt, and is especially adapted to revolving battery guns of the Gatling gun type.

2. Description of the Prior Art The literature of machine guns is quite extensive. An excellent survey of locking systems is found in The Machine Gun, Volume IV, by George M. Chinn, Bureau of Ordnance, Department of the Navy, published by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S.G.P.O., 1951. An exemplary disclosure of the modern conventional Gatling gun is found in U.S. Pat. No. 2,849,921 issued to H. McC Otto on Sept. 2, 1958, in which the bolt is rotated within the receiver to interengage locking lugs in the receiver. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,380,343 issued to R. E. Chiabrandy on Apr. 30, 1968 the bolt is carried by the receiver to engage a locking lug in the housing. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,690,215, issued to B. P. Clark et al. on Sept. 12, 1972 there is shown a bolt which is locked by a cross-slide which reciprocates to provide 360 of lock around the periphery of the bolt.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a symmetrical locking system providing 360 of lock around the periphery of the bolt.

A feature of this invention is an iris-slide which is cam controlled and which entirely encircles the bolt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING These and other objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the following specification thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingin which:

FIG. 1 is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of a Gatling type gun of the type shown in U. S. Pat. No. 2,849,921, showing a bolt locking system embodying this invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial top view of the bolt locking system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view, looking forward, of the bolt locking system of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of the aft end of the barrel of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an end view, looking forward, of the barrel of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the actuator of the bolt locking system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an end view, looking aft, of the actuator of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side view of one of the four lock blocks of the bolt locking system of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 9 is an end view, looking forward, of the lock block of FIG. 8.

THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention is shown in FIG. 1 embodied in a bolt locking system in a Gatling type gun. The gun includes a rotor 10 having six longitudinal bores 12 in an annular row in which six barrels 14 are respectively fixed. The rotor is journalled by a forward bearing 16 and an aft bearing, not shown, in a stationary housing 18. Six bolt assemblies 20 are respectively mounted in six guideways 22 in the rotor, aligned with the barrels. Each bolt assembly includes a bolt body 24 having a cam follower roller 26 disposed in a quasielliptical, bolt traversing, cam track 28 in the housing, a bolt face 30, extractor lugs 32, and an annular slot 34.

Six bell cranks 36 are respectively pivotally mounted at 38 to the rotor adjacent a respective barrel and each has one lug 40 with a distal bifurcation 42 and an other lug 44 having a cam follower roller 46 journalled thereto and disposed in a lock/unlock control cam track 48 in the housing; which track has a longitudinally forward unlock portion 48U, and a longitudinally aft lock portion 481..

The aft end of each barrel, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 includes four, uniformly radially spaced apart, outwardly projecting sectors 50. Each sector may have an included angle of 45, and be spaced from its adjacent sectors by 45. The aft face of each sector has a radial guide slot 52.

Six actuator rings 54, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, are respectively captured on the aft ends of the barrels. Each ring includes a cylindrical, longitudinally extending wall portion 56, defining a bore 58; an aft, transversely extending, annular wall portion 60 defining a bore 62; and a forward, transversely extending wall portion defined by four, uniformly radially spaced apart, inwardly projecting sectors 64, defining a bore 66. Each sector may have an included angle of 45, and be spaced from its adjacent sectors by 45. Four cam slots 68 are formed in the forward face of the aft wall portion 60. The slots are radially spaced apart 90. Each slot includes an annular portion 70 and a ramp portion 72. A post 74 projects radially from the ring 54.

Four lock blocks 76, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, are operated by each actuator ring. Each block is an annular sector element having an included angle of 90. A pin 78 is longitudinally fixedthrough each block to provide an aft cam follower80 and a forward cam follower 82.

Each actuator ring is bayonet-locked onto the aft end of the respective barrel with the four lock blocks captured therebetween. The aft cam follower 80 of each lock block rides in a respective cam slot 68, while the forward cam follower 82 rides in a respective guide slot 52. The actuator ring post 74 is captured in the bell crank bifurcation 42.

In operation, as the rotor and barrels rotate, the housing cam track 28, acting on the bolt cam follower 26, in sequence, traverses each bolt assembly fore and aft for a cycle of feed, chamber, and extraction operations. The bell crank cam follower 46 rides in the unlock portion 48U of the housing cam track and maintains the actuator ring swung counter-clockwise as seen in FIG. 3, with each lock block aft cam follower disposed in the annular slot portion 70, and the block in its centrifugal unlock disposition. When the bolt is traversed forward, the round of ammunition R and the forward end of the bolt pass through the bore 62 and between the lock blocks, into the chamber of the bar- 360 ring directly locking the bolt to the barrel, symmetrical about the axis of the barrel.

It will be seen that the present system provides:

1 360 surface around the bolt head to hold the firing load.

2. Low deflection of the bolt by virtue of the short load path through the actuator ring.

3. The elimination of a load path through the rotor.

4. No tools required for assembly and simplicity of parts.

While the invention has been shown in an embodiment for a Gatling type gun, it will be appreciated that the invention may be utilized in single barrel guns.

What is claimed is:

l. A bolt and lock assembly for a firearm, comprising:

a barrel having a longitudinal bore therein;

a bolt having a first disposition whereat it obturates one end of said bore of said barrel and a second disposition whereat it clears said bore, and a peripheral groove therein; and

locking means including a plurality of sector elements,

first means for capturing said sector elements to said barrel, and second means for radially traversing each of said plurality of sector elements to and between a first disposition whereat a portion of each of said elements is disposed in said peripheral groove of said bolt when said bolt is in its first disposition and a second disposition whereat said elements clear said bolt;

said second means including an actuator ring having a like plurality of first cam tracks;

a like plurality of first cam followers, each respectively fixed to a sector element and following a respective first cam track; and

means for rotating said actuator ring, whereby said first cam follower tracks along a radial path.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said second means further includes a guide ring having a like plurality of second radial cam tracks; and a like plurality of second cam followers, each respectively fixed to a sector element and following a second cam track, whereby to constrain the respective first cam follower to movement along said radial path.

3. An assembly according to claim 2 further including:

. a receiver supporting said barrel and said bolt;

a housing supporting said receiver; and wherein,

said means for rotating said actuator ring includes crank means coupled to and among said housing,

said receiver and said actuator ring, whereby relative movement between said receiver and said housing causes rotation of said actuator ring.

4. An assembly according to claim 3 wherein said crank means is pivotally coupled to said receiver and has a cam follower engaged with a cam track in said housing.

5. A rotating battery gun comprising:

a housing;

a receiver journalled for rotation with respect to said housing;

a first plurality of barrels fixed on said receiver in an annular row, each having a respective longitudinal bore therein;

a like first plurality of bolts, each having a first disposition whereat it obturates one end of said bore of a respective one of said barrels and a second disposition whereat it clears said bore, and a peripheral groove therein; and

a like first plurality of locking means, each including a second plurality of sector elements, first means for capturing said plurality of sector elements to a respective barrel, and

second means for radially traversing each of said plurality of sector elements to and between a first disposition whereat a portion of each of said elements is disposed in said peripheral groove of said respective bolt when said bolt is in its first disposition, and a second disposition whereat said elements clear said bolt,

each of said second means including an actuator ring having a like second plurality of first cam tracks;

a like second plurality of first cam followers, each respectively fixed to a sector element and following a respective first cam track; and

a like second plurality of means for rotating a respective actuator ring, whereby said first cam follower tracks along a radial path.

6. A gun according to claim 5 wherein:

each said second means further includes a guide ring having a like second plurality of second radial cam tracks; and

a like plurality of second cam followers, each respectively fixed to a sector element and following a respective cam track, whereby to constrain the respective first cam follower to movement along said radial path.

7. A gun according to claim 6 further including a like first plurality of crank means, each coupled to and among said housing, said receiver and a respective actuator ring, whereby relative movement between said receiver and said housing causes rotation of a respective actuator ring.

8. A gun according to claim 7 wherein:

said housing includes a cam track; and

each of said crank means has a respective cam follower in said track. 

1. A bolt and lock assembly for a firearm, comprising: a barrel having a longitudinal bore therein; a bolt having a first disposition whereat it obturates one end of said bore of said barrel and a second disposition whereat it clears said Bore, and a peripheral groove therein; and locking means including a plurality of sector elements, first means for capturing said sector elements to said barrel, and second means for radially traversing each of said plurality of sector elements to and between a first disposition whereat a portion of each of said elements is disposed in said peripheral groove of said bolt when said bolt is in its first disposition and a second disposition whereat said elements clear said bolt; said second means including an actuator ring having a like plurality of first cam tracks; a like plurality of first cam followers, each respectively fixed to a sector element and following a respective first cam track; and means for rotating said actuator ring, whereby said first cam follower tracks along a radial path.
 2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said second means further includes a guide ring having a like plurality of second radial cam tracks; and a like plurality of second cam followers, each respectively fixed to a sector element and following a second cam track, whereby to constrain the respective first cam follower to movement along said radial path.
 3. An assembly according to claim 2 further including: a receiver supporting said barrel and said bolt; a housing supporting said receiver; and wherein, said means for rotating said actuator ring includes crank means coupled to and among said housing, said receiver and said actuator ring, whereby relative movement between said receiver and said housing causes rotation of said actuator ring.
 4. An assembly according to claim 3 wherein said crank means is pivotally coupled to said receiver and has a cam follower engaged with a cam track in said housing.
 5. A rotating battery gun comprising: a housing; a receiver journalled for rotation with respect to said housing; a first plurality of barrels fixed on said receiver in an annular row, each having a respective longitudinal bore therein; a like first plurality of bolts, each having a first disposition whereat it obturates one end of said bore of a respective one of said barrels and a second disposition whereat it clears said bore, and a peripheral groove therein; and a like first plurality of locking means, each including a second plurality of sector elements, first means for capturing said plurality of sector elements to a respective barrel, and second means for radially traversing each of said plurality of sector elements to and between a first disposition whereat a portion of each of said elements is disposed in said peripheral groove of said respective bolt when said bolt is in its first disposition, and a second disposition whereat said elements clear said bolt, each of said second means including an actuator ring having a like second plurality of first cam tracks; a like second plurality of first cam followers, each respectively fixed to a sector element and following a respective first cam track; and a like second plurality of means for rotating a respective actuator ring, whereby said first cam follower tracks along a radial path.
 6. A gun according to claim 5 wherein: each said second means further includes a guide ring having a like second plurality of second radial cam tracks; and a like plurality of second cam followers, each respectively fixed to a sector element and following a respective cam track, whereby to constrain the respective first cam follower to movement along said radial path.
 7. A gun according to claim 6 further including a like first plurality of crank means, each coupled to and among said housing, said receiver and a respective actuator ring, whereby relative movement between said receiver and said housing causes rotation of a respective actuator ring.
 8. A gun according to claim 7 wherein: said housing includes a cam track; and each of said crank means has a respectivE cam follower in said track. 